Knife-sharpener.



EDIVARD IIENRY JONES,

OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

KNlFE-SHARPENER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 651,462, dated June 12, 1900.

Application filed October 8, 1898.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD HENRY J ONES, gentleman, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 75 Alderney street, Pimlico, S. W., London, England, have invented certain Improvements in Knife- Sharpeners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new or improved knife-sharpener, and has for its object to provide a simple and eflicient device especially adapted for sharpening penknives, but which is also applicable for sharpening other knives.

According to my invention I construct my improved sharpener of a block of ordinary wood, preferably of oblong shape and formed at one end with a handle. The said block forms the rubbing -surface upon which to sharpen the knife and is well adapted for the purpose by reason of its porous, spongy, and absorbing nature. I charge the wooden block with a sharpening medium,such as ordinary emery composition or razor-paste, so that it will not heat the blades by reason of its containing oil or grease and thelike, which keeps the block in a semimoist state, thus preventing the knife-blades from heating. or softening in the process of sharpening. In order to charge the block with the said emery COIII- position, I provide the face of the same with one or more narrow slits or saw-cuts extending down to about one-eighth of an inch of the lower face or back of the block and curving upward or terminating to within a quarter of an inch of each end thereof. These slits or cuts are filled under pressure with the emery composition or razor-paste and will contain sufficient of the latter to render the device effective during the life of the block, thus dispensing with the necessity of applying any fresh composition paste or keeping on hand a separate supply. The blade of the knife in the process of sharpening forces the gritty particles of the emery composition into the pores of the wood, which are softened and opened by means of the oil or grease contained in the said composition paste, and in a short time the surface of the block hardens or becomes comparatively non-elastic, thus expediting the process of sharpening and setting up an edge in much lesstime than with the ordinary oil-stones or hones heretofore in Serial No. 693,082. (No model.)

I may also provide the block with an outer case or sheath.

. In order to clearly understand my invention, reference is made to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 is aside view of the sharpener, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan and Fig. 4 a perspective view of the block in cross-section with the case in position thereon.

a is the wooden block, formed with the handle a.

b is the slit or saw-cut formed in the face of the block and extending vertically downward to about one-eighth of an inch from the lower face or back a of the block. The said slit runs longitudinally along the center of the block and terminates within a quarter of an inch of each end, as shown in Fig. 2, and is filled by pressure with the emery composition paste 0, as before described.

The block, as shown, is provided with only one slit or saw-cut, but two or more may be formed therein, if desired. The said slit or slits is or are preferably formed by means of a small circular saw caused to travel the required distance along the block.

I provide the block with acase or sheath d, as shown in Fig. 4, which is formed on each side with longitudinal flanges d, resting in grooves a on each side of the block, soas'to prevent its top face coming into contact with the upper surface of the block.

By means of my invention I provide a simple self-contained device which can be efficiently utilized by those unskilled in the use of ordinary oil-stones.

Having now fully described the nature of my said invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In an improved knife-sharpener the combination of a wooden block, such as a, provided with a handle a, a slit or slits or sawcuts b filled with emery composition or razorpaste 0, and a case or sheath d formed with flanges d engaging with grooves a in the sides of the block substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD HENRY JONES.

Witnesses: Y

JOHN BEAoH-FLnURE'r, FREDERICK MIOAH MELLOR. 

